Passport in hand, bags half-packed, and a Disney park on the itinerary: that’s the dream. But before you board a plane, there’s one page worth a few minutes of your time. According to a recent report, the U.S. Department of State has recently added or changed several travel advisories, and some of the places on the list overlap with where Disney fans like to travel.
We can’t verify the advisories ourselves, so everything below is attributed to the report, and we’ll say plainly where it doesn’t give details. Here’s how the system works, what’s changed, and how to read it carefully if your vacation takes you abroad.
One caution up front: an advisory level is a short label attached to a much longer explanation. The report summarizes both, and the official wording on the State Department’s site is the final word.
How the Advisory System Works
Travel advisories are issued by the U.S. Department of State. According to the report, they typically warn about areas that could be unsafe for Americans to visit, and they also include precautions to take when traveling abroad.
You can find the list and a corresponding map in the Travel Advisories section of the State Department’s website. The report says you can sort alphabetically, by location, or by level of advisory.
The Four Levels
There are four levels. According to the report, Level 1 is “exercise normal precautions” and Level 4 is “do not travel.” The report also describes Level 2 as “exercise increased caution” and Level 3 as a recommendation to reconsider travel.
The report adds that Level 1 and 2 designations are reviewed every 12 months, while Level 3 and 4 designations are reviewed every six months.
What Changed
Here are the changes the report describes, in date order:
A Note on Timing
The dates matter here. The changes described run from October 12 through October 21, so a plan you made before then may predate them. The report says the list is reviewed on a regular schedule, so what you read today could look different later.
That’s one reason to check the official page close to your departure date and not only when you first book. We’re not predicting any changes, only noting that the page is a living document.
France: Level 2
The report says France was added to the list on October 21 with a Level 2 designation, “exercise increased caution,” because of unrest and terrorism. That’s the second of four levels, below “reconsider travel” and “do not travel.”
The report doesn’t mention any specific park, city, or region in connection with the France designation, so we aren’t saying how it applies to any particular destination.
China: Level 2 and “Wrongful Detention”
China was given a Level 2 designation on October 19, according to the report, with “wrongful detention” as a risk indicator for Americans. The report doesn’t say how the designation applies to Hong Kong or Shanghai, and we won’t guess. The State Department’s page is the place to find the details for your destination.
Kenya and Tanzania
As of October 19, the report says, Kenya was designated Level 3, which recommends reconsidering travel. It lists many risk factors for Kenya, including crime, unrest, health-related issues, kidnappings, and terrorism.
Tanzania was given a Level 2 for some of the same risk factors, the report says, though it doesn’t specify which ones.
Saudi Arabia: The Level 3 Wording
On October 12, Saudi Arabia was upgraded to Level 3. The report quotes the government website: “Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of drone and missile targeting of American interests by Iran and the Iranian-supported Houthis, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity. Some areas have increased risk.”
Reading Levels Carefully
A few reminders. A Level 2 designation is not a Level 4. The levels are the State Department’s own designations, and the report summarizes them, so for the complete wording of any advisory, read the official page for that country.
Also keep in mind that the report is a summary. It doesn’t tell us how each advisory applies to specific cities or attractions, and we aren’t filling in those gaps.
For Disney Fans Heading Abroad
The report says the advisories are especially relevant to Disney fans traveling to Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. If one of those parks is on your itinerary, check the State Department’s page for the country you’re visiting before you go.
The report recommends looking at the website for additional information on safety precautions, how to avoid scams, and news about high-risk areas. It’s also worth rechecking closer to your departure, since designations can change.
Keeping Your Plans Smooth
A few practical ideas. Read the full advisory for your destination, not just the level number. Note the specific risks listed, and think through what they mean for your plans. If you’re booking, check the terms of what you’ve purchased, and keep your itinerary flexible.
Those are general ideas, not statements about any park’s policies, which we don’t have information about.
Tell Us Where You’re Headed
Are you planning a Disney trip abroad this year? Tell us in the comments which park you’re visiting and how you check on travel safety before you go. We’ll keep following any new advisories and share what we find.
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